The Washington critic., 1887-09-08
CoLUMBiA HOSPITAL.
Its Beneiicept Objects md Highly
Successful Work.

Institutions Of Washington stands Colum-
Tia Hospital for NOmsn aud Lying.in.
Asy lum OF the District Of Columbia It's
site, which often attracts the attention Of
those passing by the pleasing aspect OF the
luildings and grounds, occupies the entirc
toutbern half Oisquarc No. 20, bounded by
l. AID NJ, Twenty fourth and Twsnty.tiith
streets northwest. The principal struc.
tuIe which fronts on |. street, is large
tbTeG.gtCry brick building painted light,
cheerful color, consisting Of q main buid-
inp handsomely topped OF with Nanssrd
roof, also Of IN cost, west and north wiuG.
There ere also several smaller detached
bulldogs or cottages, which are used as
accessories to the lyiug.in departments Ia
cfses where isolation ia advanLageoua for
the prevention Or spread OF septlc iu1u-
tnCte, etc.
The hospital standa upon beautiful and
well.keut lawn, elevated above the dust,
tmUko and noise OF the city, u quiet haven
for 'Lu weaker sex IA their hours Of trial.
There arc free wards aud private apart
'neuts for those desiring them, and free
dispeGtArS is attached where patients eau
come and receive advice as well as mudl.
CiLes. 1LcIr are also Outeide patients who
cannot come TO the dispensary but are Wis
ted vi their homes by the surgeon Ia charge
al Bio assistants Like most institutions OF
its kind, Columbia Hospital had au humble
beginning st the commencement OF the
late war Washing Vh could not claim sin-
glo institution for the diseases OF women,
and during the war the churches and other
large buildings were but the wRrds OF
great military hospital, and there was not
time or meALs to provide relief for others,
About the time the war ceased, Provi-
dence Hospital was founded chiefly through
| lie excrtions OF the Hon. Thad. Stevens,
| and turned over To the Sisters of Charity,
but 1t was strained to its utmost capacity
| by the soldiers, who were unable to reach
| their homes, aud the mothers, wives aud
| daughters who bad come here In search OF
| mistirg ones and had then remained as
| Dufsts, aud who were now broken down
aud had no place where they could be
| treated. At this time several gentlemen,
chief among whom was surgeon-General
| Joseph X. Barnes, conceived the idea OF
| founding hospital exclusively for women.
| The plan WAS laid before Secretary Stanton,
aId he uuhesltatingly assumed the respousi-
bility Of authorizing the surgeon-General
| 10 furnish completely fifty beds aud to issue
full supply Of medicines and medical
stores, Insisting, however, that tweSty of
| these beds should be used exclusively for
| the wives and widows Of soldiers Of the
| L s. Army.
| Money flowed In from those ohlTltaUly
| disposed, building rented aud furnished,
and on the 4th OF March, 1866. Columbia
| Hospital threw open Its doors with heart
ftlt prayer to Almighty God that He would
hlese the undertaking and prosper the ef-
forts Of !ls founders, and how well that
| prayer has been answered Is to-day Rttested
10y those who have within It's walls received
strength aud health, which before they had
despaired of, aud the standing the hospital
hes today among Tue charitable Institutions
| OF the country. Tie first president was
Rev. DIR, Gillette, aud Rev. G. n. Coombs the
fist secretary. DR.. j. ii. Thompson, who
had filed the position Of surgeOn-in chief
OF the hospital from It's establishment, re-
signtd in the autumn Of 1876, and DR.. 7. j.
Murphy, who had been the resident assist
ant, was shortly srtorward appointed his
| SUCCESSOR and has ably lillel the position
since that time The success OF the treat.
meit IN the hospital is at;ested by the au-
| nuAl reports for the last ten years, showing
| that Of the Thousands Of ca6Ca treated, many
Of them requiring difficult snd dangerous
operations, the per ceniage OF the adult
mortality has been less than one per cent.
The following ia "a list Ct the
orFICERs ron Tur CURRENT YEAR.
Rev. Rush r. shipPcn, president; Gem
ersl +. d. TownaeDl and Mr. John r.
Mitchell, vice presidents; Colonel John NJ.
Wilson, U. S. Army, treasurer; l.. W.
Richie, N. D., secretary; 2. j. Murphy,
n. d, surgeon In charge; John W. Boyee,
NJ. D., and James I. Sweetman, NJ. d.,
resident assistants; Joseph A. Horigan,
Phar. d., pharmacist; Mrs. A, L. s. Thombs,
matron.
Dlrectors-uon. z. B, Vance, Hon Louis
Z. AcComas, Hon. &. d. Wise, Hon
Samuel Il. WheatlGy, General Il, ID
Townsend, Mr.. II, II, Smith, Mr.. John I.
Mitchell, Mr.. A. 5. Solomon5, Mr.. Henry
A. Willard, James L. Morgan, NJ. D. ;
Rev Rush r. shippsn; l.. W. RLchie, ",
Nathaniel Wilson, esq Rev. W. A. Bart
lett, d d Rev. Samuel Giesy, ID. ID Mr..
| Thomas ). Fisher, DIR. John +. Head, U s..
Army; MIR. NJ. W. BGverldge.
Advisory Board of Physicians and Sur
gtont-I. W Rltchie, NJ. D.; James +.
Morgan, NJ. ID.
Committee on Rules-The presiden, of
the board Tex oillciol and Nathanial Wilson,
esq.
Committee on Expendltures-Mr +. II.
Smith, Colonel John NJ. Wilson, Mr.. Thos.
j. Fisltr.
lsrd and James 4. Morgan, NJ. ID.
Committee on Personal Property
John Y, Mitchell, Louis W. RItchie, NJ, D.;
General r. d. Townsend.
Committee on Ways and Meaus--The
treasurer (ex,onlciol, Hon. Samuel t..
Nheatley, Hon, Louis y McComas.
Committee on Annual Report-The presi-
dent Of the board (eNoillCiO), Rev. W. A.
Bartlett, d, D., lion. q. u. Wise.
Committee on Medical aud Surgical Sup
plies-Mr. Il, II. Smith.
Committee on Lady N!slt1rs-Mr llenry
A. Niilard, Rev, Samuel II. Gicsy, Hon z
Is. Vance,
ViItipg Committee Tor the Present
Quarler-Rcy 5. Ii, Giasy, D. D., General
Il. D. Townsend, Rev ", A. Bartlett, D
d; Mr. llcsIy 4 willard, Mr, A s, Solo
mons Nuthgucl Wilson, esq.
Board Of Lady Nisilors Mrs. lieury a,
Willard, president; Mrs, William o. smell
secretary; Miss Margaret Washington, Mrs
Samuel Emery, Mrs. 5 Phillips Lee, Mrs
+. l., Moore, Mrs. 5. Ledyard Phelps, Mrs
Z. r. BOrd, Mrs Thomas A. Il Keerh, Mrs
James 3 Edmonls, Mrs II, Main, Mrs a
b. Mullett.
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